Putting spacer between first tile and kitchen work top to allow for movement of work top

[james hailwood]

Kitchen fitter on a job I'm gonna be on Monday said to put a spacer between the first row of tiles and the wooden work top for silicone. I've never seen this before in 11 years. does any one do this? seems bit extreme, I'd usually just start off the work top and silicone at end. it's for the movements of the work top but seemed bit ott.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

If it's 'real' wood you may have more expansion/contraction in the material.
However IMO nothing looks worse than a wide bead of silicone at that joint.
Love it when your told how to do the job by another trade.

 

[J Sid]

yes

 

[J Sid]

2mm is wide now

disagree TJ

​

 

[Dumbo]

I always space of of the worktop. British standards says something like you should have a movement joint where tiles meet another surface . If you silicone tidily it is the same width as other grout joints .

 

[Time's Ran Out]

2mm is wide now

disagree TJ

​

On the contrary - a 2mm joint would necessitate a 4mm silicone joint and that is absolutely perfect, especially colour matched.
But how many turn out 8mm and more till all you notice is the joint.

Never understand why people go for 'real wood' worktops. So unhygienic and when you get there to start tiling they are always going to seal them after you've finished!

 

[Martyn Leeds]

better than a joiner telling you to grout between tile & worktop

 

[Dumbo]

On the contrary - a 2mm joint would necessitate a 4mm silicone joint and that is absolutely perfect, especially colour matched.
But how many turn out 8mm and more till all you notice is the joint.

Never understand why people go for 'real wood' worktops. So unhygienic and when you get there to start tiling they are always going to seal them after you've finished!

Don't really understand your first paragraph. Maybe I'm stupid .

 

[J Sid]

Don't really understand your first paragraph. Maybe I'm stupid .

I think it's Pension Day, so is mind might be on other things.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I think it's Pension Day, so is mind might be on other things.

Where I can spend it! But only every other week.

Don't really understand your first paragraph. .

If you leave a 2mm spacer gap as suggested by the member for Essex, then in my opinion it allows a 1mm covering to tile and worktops = 4mm of silicone visible.

 

[J Sid]

Where I can spend it! But only every other week.

If you leave a 2mm spacer gap as suggested by the member for Essex, then in my opinion it allows a 1mm covering to tile and worktops = 4mm of silicone visible.

which would look lovely imho

 

[Rich Midge]

I go straight off the tops, always have.

 

[Tile Shop]

If you leave a 2mm spacer gap as suggested by the member for Essex, then in my opinion it allows a 1mm covering to tile and worktops = 4mm of silicone visible.

tis true.....

Sorry...... I really am that bored!

 

[Rookery]

I always put spacers between the worktop and first row of tiles

 

[peteablard]

I use Rubi wedges to lift the first row. 1-2mm off the worktop. The diagram Paul has done shows why, the silicone goes under the tile giving a far superior seal than if its just sat on the face of the tile

 

[Qwerty]

If it's bevelled metros or a rounded edge I don't. If its rectified, cut edge or stone I do

 

[LM]

Many years ago I never bothered, but there was an occasion on a site that the kitchen fitter mixed up the work tops in ajoining houses being fitted at the same time. He was a really likeable chap and I'd just tiled both kitchens with metros when the mistake was noticed. Both worktops had to come out, which meant the bottom row of tiles also had to come off. If I had of tiled with a spacer below then there would have been enough wriggle room for the wotktops to come out without much disruption. As I felt sorry for the fitter I did the repairs for free to help him out and since that day I've always tiled off the worktop with a spacer below, even with metros. It costs us nothing and apart from the obvious implications of exspansion it might just help some chap out some day.

 

[Qwerty]

Many years ago I never bothered, but there was an occasion on a site that the kitchen fitter mixed up the work tops in ajoining houses being fitted at the same time. He was a really likeable chap and I'd just tiled both kitchens with metros when the mistake was noticed. Both worktops had to come out, which meant the bottom row of tiles also had to come off. If I had of tiled with a spacer below then there would have been enough wriggle room for the wotktops to come out without much disruption. As I felt sorry for the fitter I did the repairs for free to help him out and since that day I've always tiled off the worktop with a spacer below, even with metros. It costs us nothing and apart from the obvious implications of exspansion it might just help some chap out some day.

I wish other trades were so considerate!

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I wish other trades were so considerate!

Oi! Don't tar all of us with Lees brush!

 

[Italy]

Many years ago I never bothered, but there was an occasion on a site that the kitchen fitter mixed up the work tops in ajoining houses being fitted at the same time. He was a really likeable chap and I'd just tiled both kitchens with metros when the mistake was noticed. Both worktops had to come out, which meant the bottom row of tiles also had to come off. If I had of tiled with a spacer below then there would have been enough wriggle room for the wotktops to come out without much disruption. As I felt sorry for the fitter I did the repairs for free to help him out and since that day I've always tiled off the worktop with a spacer below, even with metros. It costs us nothing and apart from the obvious implications of exspansion it might just help some chap out some day.

SAME

 

[Michael Greenwood]

I always use a spacer under bottom row for the afore mentioned reason. It gives a better seal and movement or worktop removal doesn't mean pulling tiles back off.

 

[nalla]

As a few have already said on here i always leave a spacer gap between worktop and first row of tiles, (a 2mm spacer same as what i use on the rest of the tiles) for me it's a far neater finish (silicone flush with tile) and the silicone goes under the tile giving a far better seal.

 

[nalla]

As a few have already said on here i always leave a spacer gap between worktop and first row of tiles, (a 2mm spacer same as what i use on the rest of the tiles) for me it's a far neater finish (silicone flush with tile) and the silicone goes under the tile giving a far better seal.

 

[Njdceramics]

I always space of the worktops